SEATTLE — As if the top-seeded Seahawks needed the boost, Percy Harvin is healthy again and expected to play in Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game with the visiting Saints.

The speedy kick returner and wide receiver had battled a hip injury that threatened to end his first season with Seattle after just one appearance, but Harvin has made a surprising recovery and is now ready to go.

Asked Thursday after another encouraging practice if he would play against the Saints, Harvin smiled and said, “Absolutely.”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Harvin would be active for the game, and the former Viking’s return could provide bolster a Seattle offense that has turned unexpectedly lethargic the past month.

Harvin also said he expects to return kickoffs, an area in which he led the league in average return yards for Minnesota in both 2011 and 2012 before being traded to Seattle.

Harvin didn’t appear in a game for the Seahawks until Nov. 17 — against the Vikings, incidentally — because of hip surgery, and he said Thursday he considered calling it a season because of swelling and other problems that resulted from that appearance.

Harvin didn’t practice the rest of the regular season, but he returned to workouts two weeks ago and has looked like his old self, according to coaches and teammates.

“I feel very, very confident,” Harvin said Thursday. “I feel very good. These last practices have been very good. My conditioning has been very good. So I’m very confident.”